Microbiology and Biotechnology Research: An Overview Vol. 9

Worldwide, tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of death resulting from infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. During the past decade, despite several effective treatment options and preventive strategies, the incidence of TB has increased. The epidemiology of tuberculosis is shaped by dynamic interactions among the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, host behavioural vulnerabilities, comorbid conditions, environmental determinants, and socioeconomic status. The infectious agent has several critical characteristics, including efficient airborne transmission, the ability to survive within host immune cells, slow replication, latent persistence, and the capacity to develop drug resistance. Collectively, these attributes enable Mycobacterium tuberculosis to infect and persist successfully within human populations. A detailed understanding of TB epidemiology is necessary for the effective implementation of prevention and treatment strategies. Several demographic, medical, behavioural, occupational, and socioeconomic risk factors play important roles in the initiation of infection and the development of active TB disease. Comprehensive knowledge of TB epidemiology and its risk factors can link early diagnosis with effective treatment, help prevent recurrence, and support the development of context-specific policies based on population characteristics. This chapter provides updated TB statistics and a broad overview of associated risk factors. Tobacco use should be rigorously controlled among both healthy individuals and patients with existing medical conditions, as smoking significantly increases the risk of TB infection, disease progression, and poor treatment outcomes. Consequently, public health policies and clinical management strategies should be regularly reviewed and strengthened to improve TB prevention, control, and treatment outcomes. In addition, individuals undergoing immunosuppressive therapy should be systematically evaluated for a history of active or latent TB before treatment is initiated. Early identification and appropriate management of latent or previous TB infection may substantially reduce the risk of TB reactivation and associated complications in immunocompromised patients.